Hexham Wednesday 31st March

Peltwell and Danny McMenamin have struck up a notable relationship for the horse’s last two wins, including being in such harmony that they survived a shuddering error early on yesterday in her Newcastle win.

Turned out a day later at Hexham, with a change of jockey, and with the effects of a hard enough race still in her legs, now surely is the time to take her on from a betting perspective. The Hexham opener at 2.10 is chock full of interesting sorts who could produce better than they’ve been showing back on a decent surface, or with a change of stable potentially a galvanising effect also. All of her rivals have something in their form or profile that would suggest they could run well today.

But none more so than the Maurice Barnes-trained Saint Arvans, who has been stealthily flying under the radar this season, despite two wins at Kelso and a handful of very creditable supporting efforts. Sandwiched in between those two Kelso wins, (which are an absolute clear standard on speed figures,) was an honourable fourth in a hot novice hurdle at Musselburgh.

At 11/2 generally, Saint Arvans is a very sound each-way play in a race that sets up nicely for such a bet, with the short favourite opposable despite her prolific run.

Three months off in the depths of winter has kept Saint Arvans fresh, (comments consistent with most of Barnes’ string also,) and his reappearance run at Wetherby in a much better race than this, strongly suggested that he was about to resume that progression today.

Ross Chapman was on board for the first time at Wetherby, and riding well in his new association with Barnes, his knowledge of the horse will be vital – with a handicap mark of 116, Saint Arvans squeezes into the top end of this 0-115 handicap, and the pair can combine to produce Saint Arvans’ third win of his still fledgling career.